C1 MODEM SHINES IN SURPRISING BENCHMARK DEBUT

Apple's long-rumored leap into custom silicon took a bold step forward with the unveiling of its first in-house cellular modem, the C1, powering the iPhone 16e, released on February 19, 2025.

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Touted by Apple as the "most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone," according to a statement from Johny Srouji, Senior VP of Hardware Technologies, the C1 has now faced real-world scrutiny-and the results are turning heads. Benchmarks conducted by Ookla, the force behind Speedtest reveal that Apple's debut modem holds its own against Qualcomm's industry-standard chips, exceeding expectations with impressive speed and efficiency.

This milestone—six years after Apple’s $1 billion acquisition of Intel’s modem business in 2019—marks a seismic shift from its reliance on Qualcomm, a partnership cemented by a 2019 settlement after years of legal sparring. For tech enthusiasts and iPhone users, it’s a glimpse into a future where Apple’s hardware prowess could redefine connectivity. Here’s how the C1 stacks up, why it’s making waves, and what it signals for Apple’s ambitious roadmap.

THE C1 UNPACKED: A MODEM BUILT FOR EFFICIENCY